Carlton's seven-game losing streak ended on Saturday night, four days after Michael Voss handed in his resignation following the Round 9 loss to Brisbane at the Gabba. Interim coach Josh Fraser, the former Collingwood and Gold Coast ruckman who only took the reins on Tuesday, watched his Blues sit eight points down at three-quarter time and then witness a five-goal-to-zero final term that turned a Marvel Stadium loss into a memorable 10.14 (74) to 9.8 (62) win. The Bulldogs were 5-4 going in and one of the in-form sides of the competition. They were also the latest team to cop the post-coach-quits curse that has hit them five times since 2009.
The Five-Goal Last Quarter That Saved a Week
Carlton kicked five unanswered in the final stanza after kicking 2.5 to 4.1 in the first quarter and trailing for most of the night. Patrick Cripps, the Blues captain who has now seen four full-time coaches come and go in his time at Princes Park, finished with two goals and was the heartbeat of the late charge. Indigenous debutant Jack Ison, the only change to the side that lost to the Lions, kicked one of the late goals and was named in the Blues best. Lachie Carroll booted three. Harry McKay added two from inside 50. The Bulldogs, who had Aaron Naughton three goals and looked the more polished side for three quarters, managed one shot on goal in the final 30 minutes until two late goals after the result was already booked. Marcus Bontempelli racked up his usual disposals but the Dogs' midfield never controlled the contest after the long break.
Fraser Keeps a Lid On It, Cripps Carries
Fraser had ruled himself out of the full-time job on Thursday, telling reporters he is not ready and the role is not his. He kept the message simple all week and the players responded. The 39,217 Marvel crowd was lighter than the Bulldogs and Carlton typically draw at Docklands, but the noise in the final term was the loudest the venue has heard for a Bulldogs home game in months. Carlton sit 16th at 2-8. The Bulldogs slip to 5-5 and out of the eight on percentage. The coaching search rolls on at Princes Park, with Adam Kingsley, Ross Lyon and Sam Mitchell mentioned in the early speculation. Cripps led the post-match circle in front of the Carlton cheer squad with a side that has been searching for a performance like this all year.
Where the Markets Land
Carlton went around at long head-to-head odds with the line stretched out, and the Bulldogs were under serious pressure on multis after the loss. Wooden spoon markets shorten on Richmond and West Coast and Carlton drift back out, with our reviewed bookmakers dabble, Ladbrokes and bet365 all reflecting the result. Cripps anytime goal was the play that landed for those who held him through the rough patch. Bontempelli Brownlow drifts a touch on the loss but the price stays short. The bigger market move is the Bulldogs' top-eight number, which is now drifting beyond evens. Carlton head to GWS at Engie Stadium next Sunday in Round 11 and the Dogs travel to Adelaide for a Sunday afternoon at Adelaide Oval. AFL.com.au's full match report and stats via AFL.com.au.